😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,885 in Lulea versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,023 in Lulea versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,161 in Lulea versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Lulea is roughly 28% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea41% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89SEK 120
$13.18MX$228
-2.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8SEK 875
$53.9MX$932
73.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.01SEK 112
$9.42MX$163
27.49%
Cappuccino
$4.65SEK 43.39
$3.55MX$61.4
30.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 23.88
$1.62MX$27.98
58.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SEK 19.25
$1.11MX$19.27
85.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.46SEK 78.9
$3.12MX$54.0
171.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.98SEK 93.2
$4.63MX$80.1
115.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.02
$1.70MX$29.43
13.53%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55SEK 33.15
$2.72MX$47.02
30.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.02SEK 46.86
$1.91MX$33.07
162.83%
Eggs
$4.95SEK 46.21
$2.54MX$43.86
94.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91SEK 120
$10.03MX$174
28.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.97SEK 130
$8.09MX$140
72.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.38SEK 255
$11.62MX$201
135.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69SEK 25.13
$2.97MX$51.3
-9.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80SEK 26.15
$1.81MX$31.24
54.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62SEK 24.49
$2.01MX$34.82
30.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 42.17
$2.03MX$35.20
122.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18SEK 20.33
$2.12MX$36.75
2.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.26
$2.27MX$39.25
-27.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.42SEK 31.88
$1.40MX$24.22
144.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.53
$1.13MX$19.55
28.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.45SEK 69.5
$4.27MX$73.9
74.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.66SEK 118
$15.56MX$269
-18.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.10
$1.76MX$30.39
3.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80SEK 16.77
$3.60MX$62.2
-50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.39
$0.38MX$6.62
784.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.1SEK 561
$19.18MX$332
213.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.53SEK 88.9
$1.38MX$23.79
590.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71SEK 16.00
$0.28MX$4.78
510.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$75.1SEK 700
$5.45MX$94.2
1277.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.60
$1.30MX$22.55
45.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.4K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
71.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KSEK 325.5K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
50.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174SEK 1,627
$40.86MX$707
326.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.07SEK 309
$26.81MX$464
23.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.42SEK 265
$29.96MX$518
-5.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.17SEK 459
$52.0MX$900
-5.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.67SEK 342
$26.84MX$464
36.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.75SEK 128
$6.30MX$109
118.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,481
$436MX$7,544
-63.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,764SEK 53.8K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-44.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125SEK 1,168
$56.7MX$980
121.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73SEK 315
$44.38MX$768
-24.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,175
$103MX$1,780
22.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172SEK 1,605
$106MX$1,825
63.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791SEK 7,376
$1,022MX$17.7K
-22.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$578SEK 5,395
$631MX$10.9K
-8.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,413SEK 13.2K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-33.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053SEK 9,824
$1,243MX$21.5K
-15.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,337SEK 31.1K
$3,903MX$67.5K
-14.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,379SEK 22.2K
$2,064MX$35.7K
15.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,732SEK 25.5K
$1,115MX$19.3K
145.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
11.34
-62.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Lulea and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 145% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Lulea vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 vs $288 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lulea vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or Mexico City?
Lulea pays 145% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $791 in Lulea versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea vs Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $94.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lulea or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,885 in Lulea, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,467 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.